Community Action House, Local Partners, WHTC
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WHTC: Hunger Awareness Weekend

Tune into last week's WHTC Talk of the Town episode where our very own Assistant Director of Food Access, Chara Bouma-Prediger, and Annual Funds Manager Shanna Van Kempen speak on all of the events taking place this weekend during Holland's Hunger Awareness, and how you can get involved!

FOX 17: Rising turkey costs add pressure ahead of Thanksgiving

Community Action House is celebrating 5 years of our Food Club & Opportunity Hub! Over the past 5 years, we have supported over 23,000 neighbors through stocked shelves of healthy and affordable food, financial wellness counseling, resource navigation, and more.

For years, our community has worked together to help neighbors gather for healthy Thanksgiving meals. This year, we're preparing to serve 1,800 families, continuing a tradition of generosity and care.

But as grocery prices rise, the cost of providing these meals is growing, too. This fall, our cost to purchase turkeys has increased by 50%. Just as families are feeling the strain of higher grocery bills, it's becoming more expensive to make this Thanksgiving tradition possible.

Learn more in Fox 17’s recent segment here!

FOX 17: Annual "Thanks for Giving" food drive and winter clothing drive return to Holland

The Holland Farmers Market and local businesses are responding to community needs with their annual “Thanks for Giving” food drive and winter clothing drive.

12 participating businesses in Holland are collecting winter coats, hats, and gloves to provide for local families!

Holland Farmers Market will also be collecting food items for Food Club, helping us equip our neighbors with the healthy food they need to fill their table this Thanksgiving.

Learn more about “Thanks for Giving” here!

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November eNews

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Dear friends,

November is Homelessness Awareness Month. 

Stability depends on many things working together: a safe home, access to fresh food, reliable income, and people to turn to when things get hard. When one of those pieces suddenly changes, the others can quickly be put at risk. Life can change in an instant.

Sudden setbacks like an unexpected diagnosis, a reduced paycheck, or a car that won’t start can quickly push families past the breaking point. Right now, more families are finding there’s less room in their budgets to absorb the unexpected. One hard month can quickly turn into a crisis, but our community can change what happens next. 

At Community Action House, that means showing up at every point along the journey. Food Club helps families stretch their budgets. Financial Wellness and Resource Navigation help neighbors navigate challenges, strengthen their finances, and find a path forward. And when someone has already lost housing, our Outreach & Housing Access team walks alongside them toward a safe, stable home.

This year, our team walked alongside neighbors like Anna*, who continued working and caring for her children while living out of their car before a housing voucher and community support helped her family secure a home.

So far this year, 81 neighbors have moved from homelessness into safe, stable housing by partnering with our Outreach team. And, our Financial Wellness team has provided Foreclosure Intervention assistance that has helped keep at least 44 family homes out of foreclosure this year alone. While we celebrate these successes, more neighbors are facing moments of uncertainty today when the right support can make all the difference.

We can't prevent every challenge, but we can build a community where no one has to face it alone. Strong communities are built by neighbors who care. This Homelessness Awareness Month, you can help build the kind of community you believe in:

  • Volunteer: Serve a meal at the Community Kitchen, lend a hand at Refresh, or fill a pressing need at Food Club as we help families build and maintain stability.

  • Turn Goods into Good: Drop off gently used items at Resale. Donations fuel our programs and connect recently housed neighbors to the essentials they need.

  • Join the Community Table: Steady support keeps us flexible and responsive.

  • Share: Follow along and share the stories we’re highlighting this month.

Everyone deserves a safe home, good food, and the opportunity to build a strong foundation for their family. Thank you for working alongside us to build a community where this vision becomes a reality.

With gratitude,

 

Scott Rumpsa | Chief Executive Officer

Program Updates

Outreach and Housing Access

After living and working in Holland for most of his life, Walter found himself without a place to call home in 2020. Eager to find a path toward stable housing, Walter connected with our team at the Community Kitchen and Refresh, where we worked alongside him to begin applying for housing.

As Walter took steps toward finding a home, a network of community partners came together to support him. Community Mental Health, Good Samaritan, Gateway Mission, and Pillar Church collaborated with our team to help Walter move forward. Through this support and his determination, Walter qualified for a Rapid Rehousing voucher and secured a safe, stable place to call home!

After moving in, Walter became a Food Club member, where he found affordable access to fresh, healthy groceries. Having previously visited our food pantry, Walter was amazed by the spacious, grocery-store-style Food Club and shelves stocked with nutritious food. 

With the stability he's built, Walter now spends much of his time volunteering at Pillar Church. He also joins our Healthy@Home classes, where he can learn new recipes, sharpen his cooking skills, and connect with others. With a stable home, access to healthy food, and a strong community of support, Walter continues to build a brighter future in the community he's always called home.

Food Club

Five years ago, Kristen’s life changed in an instant when she suffered a heart attack. In the hospital, doctors placed seven stents in her heart and discovered a genetic condition that caused her arteries to clog. 

With high blood pressure and cholesterol, Kristen knew that eating healthier would be essential to protecting her heart, but she couldn't afford the healthy food she needed. The hospital bills had drained Kristen's savings, and even after returning to full-time work, fresh food was out of reach at the grocery store.

Four years ago, Kristen discovered Food Club. With affordable access to fresh, nutritious groceries, she could finally make the healthy choices her doctors recommended without the added financial strain. Since becoming a Food Club member, Kristen has seen her blood pressure and cholesterol levels decrease. 

Today, Kristen is focused on caring for her health and passing along what she's learned about nutritious eating to her children and grandchildren.

Financial Wellness

Earlier this year, Jeanette* celebrated an exciting milestone: purchasing a home! After learning about Community Action House's Homebuyer Education workshop through a coworker, Jeanette decided to attend. Although she'd owned a home before, she was eager to explore resources that could help her reach her goal of becoming a homeowner again. 

Through the workshop, Jeanette gained valuable knowledge, connected with local professionals, and discovered resources that helped her navigate the homebuying process. Her home search took more than a year, but Jeanette used that time to strengthen her financial foundation. 

With new skills and a network of support, Jeanette achieved her goal of homeownership! Reflecting on her experience, she shared, "Thanks to Community Action House and their Homebuyer Education program, I was able to achieve my goal of buying a home."

*Name changed for privacy

Community Kitchen

When our Outreach team first met Max*, he was living outdoors, facing significant barriers to housing. He began visiting our Community Kitchen and Refresh, where he found nourishing meals, hygiene services, and support navigating next steps. Our team connected Max with resources to support his sobriety, and partnered with our friends at Gateway Mission to help him access emergency shelter.

Max had qualified for a Housing Choice Voucher. Despite applying to dozens of apartments, our area’s shortage of affordable housing left him without options, and his voucher expired. In 2025, Max secured stable income and began working with our team to pursue subsidized housing, but long waitlists meant more waiting. Max entered programming and shelter at Gateway Mission while holding onto hope that a subsidized unit would open up so he could find a long term home.

After years of perseverance, a unit became available, and Max finally has a place to call home! Our team helped him settle in with furniture and household essentials from our Resale Store, along with a Food Club voucher to help him access healthy groceries. Now, Max is building on his years of sobriety and has expressed interest in pursuing a new goal: becoming a sobriety coach to support others on their recovery journeys.

Max’s determination over the years opened the door to a brighter future, and with a community walking beside him in compassion and collaboration, he's moving forward with hope. We're grateful for the role our Community Kitchen plays in creating connections that open doors to the relationships, resources, and support that help neighbors like Max thrive. 

*Name and photo changed for privacy

Resale Stores

In 2008, Sydney’s parents had just graduated college and were doing everything they could to try to build a life for their young family. Jobs were scarce, and like so many families at that time, they found themselves struggling to cover the basics as prices climbed. 

Making the decision to ask for support is never easy. Sydney’s family hesitated, but they walked through the doors of our original 14th Street food pantry anyway. Met with kindness and care, they were sent home with pantry staples, diapers, and wipes. This one moment of connection made sure the family’s immediate needs were met and gave the family confidence to connect with other organizations closer to home and continue taking steps toward stability.

Growing up, Sydney knew there were seasons that were difficult, but she never realized Community Action House had been part of her family’s story.

It wasn’t until she joined our Resale team earlier this year that her parents shared this with her, and she discovered the impact those early moments of support made. 

Today, many families are facing the same difficult choices Sydney's family faced in 2008. As the cost of groceries, housing, and everyday essentials continues to rise, parents are stretching every dollar and wondering how they'll make ends meet. Community Action House is here to meet neighbors in those pivotal moments between a challenge and a crisis—offering connection to food, essential resources, and compassionate partnership and a path forward.

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Donate to Resale, and your pre-loved items are transformed into healthy food, housing connections, and stability.

Donate Today!

Donate before December 31 and receive 25% off your next purchase at Resale! 

Program Highlight

Celebrating 5 Years of Food Club Through Community Fest!

Last month we celebrated the fifth anniversary of our Food Club & Opportunity Hub! To celebrate, we hosted our week-long CommunityFest event for Food Club members, presented by Lake Trust Credit Union. This milestone is only possible through our community’s ongoing support—thank you for believing in this work!

Set Another Place at the Table

As grocery prices rise, the cost of providing meals is growing, too. This fall, our cost to purchase turkeys has increased by 50%. Just as families are feeling the strain of higher grocery bills, it's becoming more expensive to make this Thanksgiving tradition possible.

Will you help us set another place at the table? Your gift can provide healthy Thanksgiving groceries, and the knowledge that their community cares, for more than 1,800 families who will turn to us.

Donate Today!

Our cost to purchase turkeys increased by 50%. Your donation can help provide Thanksgiving groceries for a family in our community.

In Case You Missed It

Action House News and Updates

WHTC’s Talk of the Town with Gary Stevens

In October, Chara Bouma-Prediger joined WHTC to share about Food Club’s fifth anniversary.

Tune In!
 

The Shelley Irwin Show: Five Years of Food Club

Last month, Scott Rumpsa joined the Shelley Irwin show to celebrate Food Club's anniversary and reflect on our years of service.

Learn more

Rotary Club Supports Food Club Members 

The Rotary Club helped us purchase a second mobility cart for Food Club, ensuring more neighbors have access to the healthy food they need to thrive.

Read more
 

Ottawa News Network: Food Club Transforms Community Support in Holland

Since opening in 2021, the Food Club & Opportunity Hub has served more than 7,900 local families, providing the equivalent of over 7.5 million meals.

Learn more

Join The Movement

Donate Monthly

Provide a stable foundation for our service each month.

Set the Table

Help provide Thanksgiving groceries!

Donate to Resale

Donate gently used items to the Resale Store.

Homelessness Awareness Month: Life Can Change in an Instant.

November is Homelessness Awareness Month—a time to deepen our understanding of homelessness, the many circumstances that can put housing at risk, and the role we can all play in helping our neighbors find a path forward.

Life can change in an instant. A sudden loss of income, an unexpected expense, or another challenge can disrupt the stability a family has worked hard to build. Right now, more families are finding there’s less room in their budgets to absorb the unexpected. One hard month can quickly become a crisis, but our community can change what happens next.

So far this year, 81 neighbors have moved from homelessness into safe, stable housing, and 17 families have avoided foreclosure with support from our team.

This month, we’re sharing the stories of Taylor*, Anna*, Walter, and Noah*, whose journeys show us what it can look like when life changes unexpectedly, and when a community shows up to change what happens next.

Taylor’s Story

Last year, an unexpected crisis left Taylor* without a stable place to call home. She never imagined she would experience homelessness, but one emergency was all it took to put stability out of reach. As a previous Food Club member, Taylor knew she could turn to our team for support.

When she reached out to us, Taylor had already begun taking bold steps toward stability. She was actively submitting housing applications, determined to move forward. But even with a steady job, the low rental vacancy rate in Ottawa County, coupled with rising costs made finding affordable housing incredibly challenging. 

After months of applying alongside our team, Taylor was pulled off a housing waitlist and finally had a safe, stable place to call home! Since moving in, Taylor continued as a Food Club member, and she’s eager to begin partnering with our Financial Wellness team to create a budget, strengthen her savings, and plan confidently for the road ahead. 

*Name changed for privacy

Anna’s Story

Earlier this year, Anna* and her children were living out of their car after an unexpected cut in work hours led to them losing their housing. Despite the challenge, Anna continued to work, care for her children, and hold on to hope for a brighter future.

When she connected with our team, we walked alongside her and our friends at Good Samaritan to help her apply for the Housing Choice Voucher program. After receiving the voucher, Anna began reaching out directly to private landlords, submitting applications, and doing it all while still working and parenting.

Her determination paid off. A landlord accepted her application and voucher, and Anna’s family finally moved into a safe, stable home! To help them settle in, our team provided a Food Club membership, a Resale Store voucher, a referral to Community Mental Health, and a connection to a local church offering hygiene and cleaning supplies. We’re deeply grateful for all of the agencies and community members who are committed to strengthening how we show up for families like Anna’s, together.

*Name changed for privacy

Walter’s Story

After living and working in Holland for most of his life, Walter found himself without a place to call home in 2020. He began connecting with our team at the Community Kitchen and Refresh, where we worked alongside him to secure the documents he needed to begin applying for housing.

As Walter took steps toward finding a home, a network of community partners came together to support him. Community Mental Health, Good Samaritan, and his church, Pillar Church, collaborated with our team to help Walter move forward. Through this support and his determination, Walter qualified for a Rapid Rehousing voucher and secured a safe, stable place to call home!

After moving in, Walter became a Food Club member, where he found affordable access to fresh, healthy groceries. Five years later, Walter is still living in the same home and continues to visit Food Club for healthy groceries. With the stability he's built, Walter now spends much of his time connecting with community by volunteering at Pillar Church and participates in our Healthy@Home classes. 

With a stable home, access to healthy food, and a strong community of support, Walter continues to build a brighter future in the community he's always called home.

Our team works to keep families in their homes. 

Noah’s Story

As the cost of living rises, more neighbors are feeling the effects of stretched budgets and shifting support systems. This year, our Financial Wellness team has seen more families in our community seeking out financial counseling—including Noah*, who reached out after an unexpected crisis left him at risk of foreclosure.

Determined to keep his family in their home, Noah partnered with our team to understand his options and chart a path forward. Together, Noah and our team navigated months of paperwork and unexpected roadblocks. In the end, Noah was able to refinance his mortgage—saving his home and giving his family the foundation of stability they needed to move forward.

Keeping someone in their home costs less than regaining housing after homelessness. Our programs help interrupt the pipeline into homelessness by lowering costs, building skills, and offering support that helps people stay stable. The sooner a neighbor reaches out, the more options we have to help them protect their home and financial future.

*Name changed for privacy

Join the Movement

Volunteer

Serve a meal at the Community Kitchen, lend a hand at Refresh, or fill a pressing need at Food Club as we help families build and maintain stability.

Turn Goods into Good

Drop off gently used items at Resale. Your donations fuel our programs and connect recently housed neighbors to the essentials needed to transform their home into a foundation for progress.

Donate

Gifts of every size power our work. Looking for a consistent way to support? Join our Community Table: the circle of monthly donors whose steady support keeps us flexible and responsive.

Share

Follow along and share the stories we’re highlighting this month. Awareness and understanding are powerful forms of action, too.

Increasing Accessibility: Holland Rotary Club Supports Food Club Members

Roughly 1 in 5 families visiting Food Club includes someone living with a disability. For some of these neighbors, mobility challenges can make grocery shopping difficult. 

When Food Club members shared feedback that another mobility scooter would help, our team was eager to find a solution.

This year, the Holland Rotary Club helped us purchase a second mobility cart for Food Club, building on their previous support that provided our first mobility cart and a wheelchair.

At Community Action House, we believe everyone deserves access to healthy food in a welcoming, dignified environment. Thanks to the generosity of our local Rotary Club partners, we're making the Food Club that experience even more accessible! 

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October eNews

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Program Updates

Food Club

Six years ago, Malcolm* and Leah* first connected with Community Action House through our former food pantry. Retired, they spend much of their time volunteering in the community. When they learned Action House was opening Food Club, they signed up right away—excited to have fresh, healthy food within reach for them on their fixed income. 

After becoming Food Club members, Malcolm and Leah began attending Healthy@Home classes, where they learned new recipes and cooking skills while finding a community of support. They also shop at our Resale Stores, where affordable finds help stretch their budget even further. Today, some of their favorite moments are spent cooking together, trying recipes from class with fresh ingredients they picked out at Food Club. Fresh, healthy meals that once felt difficult to fit into their budget are now part of how Malcolm and Leah eat, cook, and care for their health together every day.

Over time, their connection to Food Club has opened the door to even deeper support. Last year, Malcolm and Leah worked with our Financial Wellness team through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. Through the program, they had their taxes filed at no cost, leaving more room in their budget for other bills and everyday expenses.

After years spent giving their own time to others through volunteering, Malcolm and Leah are grateful to have a community they can count on too, sharing, “Community Action House is a group of people here that helps us feel happier and healthier, and we are so grateful to be here.”

*Names and photo changed for privacy

Outreach & Housing Access

Earlier this year, a sudden crisis left Audrey* without a stable place to call home. Although she was working full time, her income wasn’t enough to qualify for housing. Each night, after a full day of work, she returned to her car to sleep.

Working alongside Good Samaritan, our team helped Audrey complete the homelessness verification she needed to pursue financial assistance through their Rapid Rehousing program. At the same time, Audrey connected with our Financial Wellness team to build a budget and begin laying the groundwork for a stronger financial future.

Over the summer, her determination paid off: Audrey was approved for housing! Soon after, she became a Food Club member, and our team provided vouchers to our Resale Store, where she found a high chair for her young son. With a safe, stable home again, Audrey was able to bring her son home after he had been staying with family.

Today, Audrey is still working full time, and at the end of each day, she and her son have a safe home to return to together. Through Food Club, she can choose fresh, healthy groceries for her family, and she continues working with our Financial Wellness team toward an even stronger financial future. With a community walking alongside her, Audrey found a safe home, reunited her family, and began building a brighter future.

*Name and photo changed for privacy

Financial Wellness

Last year, Lillian* was facing the possibility of losing her home to foreclosure. She turned to our Financial Wellness team for support, and together, they saved her home, refinanced her mortgage, and consolidated debt into more manageable monthly payments.

Our partnership didn’t stop when that immediate crisis was resolved. Lillian continued working with our team to make the most of her fixed income and make informed financial decisions. We also connected her with Food Club, where affordable access to fresh, healthy food helps stretch her budget while supporting her health.

Although Lillian continues to face significant financial challenges, she doesn’t have to face them alone. Our team continues to walk alongside her, offering guidance as circumstances change to help her find a way forward.

“The time and effort you put into me is far reaching,” Lillian shared. “It is invaluable having you to talk to about big financial decisions… [and] I plan on teaching my nephew and niece the budgeting techniques I learned.”

*Name and photo changed for privacy

Food Rescue & Partnerships

While Food Club prepares to open each Thursday morning, another kind of shopping is happening downstairs. For two hours each week, our Food Rescue & Partnerships team welcomes nonprofit partners serving church meal sites, day programs, residential housing, and other community organizations to “shop” our surplus inventory and bring fresh food back to the neighbors they serve.

Since July, 21 nonprofit partners have taken more than 30,000 pounds of food back into our community! On an average visit, partners leave with about 230 pounds of produce, meat, dairy, and pantry staples. By sharing our surplus with organizations already serving neighbors across our community, we’re ensuring good food reaches our neighbors who need it most.

The capacity to redistribute food at this scale has been built through years of investment and collaboration. We’re grateful for the staff, volunteers, food donors, and nonprofit partners who make it possible. Together, we’re turning excess food into food access!

Community Kitchen

Earlier this year, David* began visiting the Community Kitchen for warm meals while living outdoors and navigating serious physical and mental health challenges. With a reliable place to return to, David began building relationships with our team, and we walked alongside him to take steps toward stability. 

Our team helped David begin navigating housing options. Because of his health needs, finding the right housing has been complicated, and living outdoors made it difficult to consistently manage the medication he relies on. Through it all, the Community Kitchen remained a place to reconnect, meet an immediate need, and keep moving forward. 

Working alongside our community partners, we’ve continued building a network of support around David. Community Mental Health helped him secure a short-term housing placement earlier this year, and when that ended, our friends at Gateway Mission stepped in to provide emergency shelter. 

While David is still on waitlists for transitional housing that will best support his health, having a community rally around him in support has brought the stability he needs to continue building a brighter future. What began with a warm meal at the Community Kitchen has grown into a network of support helping David find a way forward. We’re grateful for the community partners who walk alongside us and our neighbors, ensuring no one has to face challenges alone.

*Name and photo changed for privacy

Resale Stores

In August, a volunteer group from Good Shepherd Lutheran Church joined us at our Northside Resale Store! After seeing a back room full of clothing and household goods ready to be stocked, the group jumped in and, in just two hours, got everything out onto the sales floor.

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church has been a steady supporter of Community Action House since 2011, finding tangible ways year after year to care for our neighbors. Earlier this year, their Women’s Group donated boxes of personal care products for neighbors in need. From donating essential items to sharing their time and talents at Resale, we’re grateful for the many ways Good Shepherd Lutheran Church continues to take action alongside us to build a stronger community.

Resale Store Hours & Information

Resale South

694 Michigan Ave, Holland 49423

Shopping Hours: Monday-Saturday, 10am-6pm, closed Sunday

Donation Hours: Monday-Saturday, 10am-5pm, closed Sunday

Resale North

650 Riley Street, Holland 49424

Shopping Hours: Monday-Saturday, 10am-6pm, closed Sunday

Donation Hours: Monday-Saturday, 10am-5pm, closed Sunday

Cleaning out your closets this fall?

Donate to Resale! Your gently used items get a second life—providing essentials for neighbors and generating the funding that keeps our programs strong.

As a thank you for donating, you'll receive a coupon for your next purchase at Resale!

Donation Guidelines

Program Highlight

Congresswoman Hillary Scholten visits Food Club

Last month, we were proud to welcome Congresswoman Hillary Scholten to Community Action House for a conversation about affordability, food access, and building a stronger, healthier community. We believe leaders make stronger decisions when they understand both the realities our neighbors are navigating and the practical solutions our community is building. That’s why we welcome opportunities to bring what we’re learning—and our neighbors’ experiences—into conversations about lasting solutions.

We regularly engage with elected leaders from across the political spectrum because healthy food, stable housing, and financial stability are critically important community issues, not partisan ones. These challenges affect families across our community, which is why we regularly welcome elected officials from across the political spectrum to listen, learn, and engage. That ongoing dialogue has included city and county officials, state lawmakers, staff from Congressman Bill Huizenga’s office, and most recently, Congresswoman Hillary Scholten.  

During Congresswoman Scholten’s visit, we shared what we're seeing across West Michigan right now—from the affordability challenges families are navigating, to the importance of federal nutrition, healthcare, and housing efforts, to the collaborative solutions emerging through efforts like our Lakeshore Food Rescue, Food as Medicine healthcare partnerships, and the Food Club Network. 

Every day, neighbors come together through Community Action House to listen, learn, and work toward a stronger future for every family. We’re grateful to everyone who chooses to build that future alongside us.

In Case You Missed It

WHTC’s Talk of the Town with Gary Stevens

In September, Chara Bouma-Prediger and Jeff Vedders joined WHTC to share about Hunger Action Month and ways to get involved.

Tune In!

GR Magazine: Food Club’s programs expand food access

Last month, Grand Rapids Magazine shared an article highlighting our Food Club and Lakeshore Food Rescue programs.

Learn more

Join The Movement

Donate Monthly

Provide a stable foundation for our service each month.

Volunteer

Volunteer time and talent powers our programs.

Donate to Resale

Donate gently used items to the Resale Store and get $5 off your next purchase.

Celebrating 5 Years at the Food Club & Opportunity Hub!

Five years ago, we opened Food Club with a simple belief: our neighbors deserved something better. Better access to healthy food. A more welcoming, dignified experience. And a place where getting groceries could be the beginning of a connection to a stronger, more stable future.

Food Club began as an idea shaped by listening to our neighbors and asking a question we return to often at Community Action House: Is there a better way?

Five years ago, our community imagined what could come next—and built it together. Today, Food Club welcomes around 1,500 families each week, connecting guests to healthy food, stability-building resources, and a community of support.

In our community, when life changes unexpectedly, someone notices. Someone cares. And someone is ready to help. Because this community has helped build Food Club, neighbors like Judy* and Gretel* don’t have to face challenges alone.

Judy’s Story

Several years ago, Judy* occasionally visited our 14th Street pantry to help support her family. After many years without needing support, her budget suddenly became strained again, and she knew she could turn to Food Club. As a retiree living on a fixed income, her budget was extremely tight—especially as grocery costs continued to rise. Since 2024, Judy has been a Food Club member, accessing the fresh, healthy groceries she needs to thrive!

Through her Food Club membership, Judy began attending Healthy@Home classes, where she found encouragement and connection in a supportive community while learning how to cook fresh, healthy meals at home! And through our Financial Wellness classes, she gained practical tools to budget wisely and save money during retirement.

Reflecting on her experience as a Food Club member, Judy shared, “Coming to Food Club truly brings me joy and eases so much of my stress.” She hopes that one day she won’t need Food Club, but for now she’s grateful for a community that welcomes her with kindness and walks alongside her as she builds a brighter future.

*Name and photo changed for privacy

Gretel’s Story

When Gretel* found a new job in 2024, she was proud to be working again—but it also meant she no longer qualified for other food support options. Still managing a tight budget and committed to keeping her family healthy, she was relieved to learn about Food Club.

Because Gretel and her daughter are both managing diabetes, food choices matter deeply for them. At Food Club, they find the fresh, healthy options they need to thrive! With dignity and flexibility, they’re able to choose the foods at Food Club that support their specific needs.

Reflecting on her experience as a Food Club member, Gretel shared, “Food Club is a definite life saver! We’re able to have more options for healthier meals by being able to shop with Food Club.”

*Name and photo changed for privacy

Grand Rapids Magazine: Food Club’s community-centered programs help expand access to healthy food

“It quickly became clear that this was much more than a grocery store.” 

In an article for Grand Rapids Magazine, Braley Brower shares about her visit to the Food Club and how she was met with the radically welcoming spirit of our staff. Highlighting resources such as membership, cooking classes, Lakeshore Food Rescue, and encouragement of healthy eating habits, the article showcases the mission of Food Club and Action House as a whole!

Read more about her experience and our programs here!

FOX 17: Community Action House's Southside Resale Store reopens in Holland with upgrades

Last month, FOX 17 shared a segment highlighting our renovated Resale South location and how critical our Resale Stores are in supporting our neighbors.

Watch the segment here!

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September eNews

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Dear friends,

What kind of community do we want to be when life gets harder?

Most of us know what it's like to care for someone going through a difficult season. We bring over a meal. We share produce from the garden. We show up because we know healthy food helps people heal, reduces stress, and gives them the strength to keep moving forward.

This Hunger Action Month, we're celebrating the community we've built together—and recognizing why that work has never been more important.

Today, the rising cost of groceries is making healthy food harder for many families to afford. And when nutritious food falls out of reach, it impacts health, financial stability, and the opportunity to build a stronger future.

In our community, we've chosen to respond differently.

Together, neighbors, volunteers, farmers, businesses, and community partners have built innovative solutions that make healthy food more accessible while connecting families to the support they need to move forward. From Food Club and Lakeshore Food Rescue to our Food Club Mobile Market, these programs exist because our community believes healthy food is one of the strongest foundations we can give a family.

This Hunger Action Month, you can help strengthen that foundation.

Help build the community you believe in by:

Thank you for the many ways you already show up for your neighbors. Together, we're building a community where healthy food is within reach and every family has the opportunity to build a stronger future.

With gratitude,

 

Scott Rumpsa | Chief Executive Officer

Program Updates

Financial Wellness

Earlier this year, Levi* connected with our Financial Wellness team while living outdoors. He had a steady job and was working hard to build stability, applying for several apartments. But after many years without renting, a lack of recent rental history became an unexpected barrier.

Despite going to work each day, Levi ended every shift without a safe place to call home. Through it all, he met with our team at Food Club and Refresh, where he found encouragement and trusted partners to walk alongside him as he pursued stability. 

Our Financial Wellness team provided reference letters for every apartment application, helping landlords see beyond the gaps in Levi's rental history. Levi remained incredibly persistent—following up on appointments and submitting applications, all while balancing full-time work and the challenges of homelessness. 

In July, that perseverance paid off. Levi was approved for an apartment! We connected Levi with our friends at City on a Hill, who helped cover his first month's rent, and our Resale Store provided the essentials he needed to begin this new chapter with confidence. Today, he's continuing to work with our Financial Wellness team to build a budget, grow his savings, and strengthen his financial future.

*Name changed for privacy.

Food Club

Do you remember Alice? 

When Alice* first became a Food Club member, she was facing a diabetes diagnosis and needed reliable access to fresh, healthy food. Through Food Club, she found nutritious groceries that fit her health needs, along with Healthy@Home classes that gave her the confidence to prepare healthy meals at home.

Over the years, our Healthy@Home classes continued to be a place where Alice built relationships and discovered new recipes. Today, Alice loves recreating those recipes with her daughter-in-law, and she often volunteers to lead Healthy@Home classes herself—sharing her passion for cooking and encouraging others!

A few years ago, Alice also began meeting with our Financial Wellness team, sharing that she had always hoped to take a special trip, but wasn't sure how to make that dream possible. Together, they created a savings plan and budget that fit her goals. Year after year, Alice committed to the plan, and earlier this summer, she reached her savings goal and was able to take the trip she had dreamed about for years! 

This is what Food Club is all about. By providing access to fresh, healthy food, families are able to get connected to nutrition education, one-on-one financial coaching, and partnership in building a future where they can thrive. We are so grateful for Alice and all the ways she’s chosen to be involved in our Food Club community over the years! 

*Name and photo changed for privacy

Outreach & Housing Access

When Zoe* first met our Outreach team, a sudden crisis had left her without a place to call home. With no local support system to lean on, each step toward stability felt overwhelming. Together, we helped Zoe replace critical documents needed to apply for housing while making sure she had access to food, clothing, and other necessities.

Through this partnership, Zoe found a team committed to walking alongside her in her journey toward stability.

For years, Zoe navigated the challenges of living outdoors. Throughout that time, the Community Kitchen and Refresh became places where she could find a warm meal and practical support. Our team walked alongside her through every setback and every step forward, becoming part of her support system—because everyone deserves a community that believes in them.

Earlier this year, Zoe stopped by to share exciting news. She had found a room to rent with a local family! While she hopes to have an apartment of her own one day, having a safe place to sleep has given her the stability she needs to keep building toward that goal. 

*Name and photo changed for privacy

Food Rescue & Partnerships

Over the course of just two days, our Food Rescue & Partnerships team rescued and redistributed 87,000 pounds of food! The paper chain our team is holding is a visual representation of this work. Each link represents a pallet of food that our team either unloaded from an incoming truck or loaded onto an outgoing truck to be shared with community partners. Together, those links represent a community coming together to make sure good food reaches people instead of landfills!

The food our team moved over these two days came from many generous partners, including a restaurant that was closing, a trucking company carrying rejected freight, local farms, grocery retailers, and more! From there, it was distributed to our Food Club, Community Kitchen, and other nonprofit and church partners across the county, ensuring thousands of pounds of fresh, healthy food reached families across our community. 

The expertise and capacity to rescue and redistribute food like this doesn’t exist in every community. We’ve built this together through ongoing partnership and years of investment in this work, and we are incredibly grateful to our staff, partners, and volunteers who make this work possible each day. Together, we’re turning excess food into food access! 

Community Kitchen

Last month, we gathered with neighbors, guests, and partners to celebrate the ribbon cutting of our new Community Kitchen location! For more than 32 years, the Community Kitchen has been a place where neighbors find warm meals, connection, and support. Today, we’re excited for the foundation our new home at The Salvation Army will provide.

During the ribbon cutting, we heard from leaders at Community Action House and The Salvation Army, as well as the neighbors who came together to form the Community Kitchen 32 years ago. A space that was born out of hospitality and care for one another has grown, and now has opportunities to create even deeper connection, collaboration, and expanded services in this new space. 

We are grateful to everyone who joined us for this celebration, and for the many volunteers, donors, and partners who have made this transition possible.

Resale Store

Hundreds of neighbors joined us for the Grand ReOpening of our original Resale South location last month! Together, we celebrated the hope, health, and stability made possible when we show up together through Resale.

This newly renovated flagship location on Holland's Southside (694 Michigan) now comes together with our brand new Resale Store on Holland’s Northside (650 Riley), to strengthen our ability to connect neighbors with the essentials they need today, while building financial resilience that ensures we can keep showing up for decades to come.

Your support for our Resale Stores, as volunteers, donors, and customers, makes this next big step forward possible. Thank you for helping us lay an even stronger foundation for our shared work. 

Weren’t able to join for the Grand ReOpening? You can still help us start off this new chapter strong: 

  • Donate – Your gently used items get a second life—providing essentials for neighbors and generating the funding that keeps our programs strong.

  • Shop – Every purchase stretches your dollar and fuels ours. If you shopped with us during our Grand ReOpening weekend, be sure to use the coupon you received before September 19! 

  • Volunteer – Share your time and skills to help us keep our store running strong. We're looking for 10 more regular volunteers to join us at our stores each month. As a thank-you for dedicating your time and talent, Resale Store volunteers receive a 35% discount!

Resale Store Hours & Information

Resale South

694 Michigan Ave, Holland 49423

Shopping Hours: Monday-Saturday, 10am-6pm, closed Sunday

Donation Hours: Monday-Saturday, 10am-5pm, closed Sunday

Resale North

650 Riley Street, Holland 49424

Shopping Hours: Monday-Saturday, 10am-6pm, closed Sunday

Donation Hours: Monday-Saturday, 10am-5pm, closed Sunday

Save the Date!

Meijer Simply Give is Back!

Right now, thanks to our friends at Meijer, your donation can be tripled! Up to $5,000 of double-matching funds are available for any gift you make before September 12, TRIPLING your impact for our community. 

Donate to Triple Your Impact!

In Case You Missed It

FOX 17: Action House's Southside Resale Store reopens in Holland with upgrades

Last month, FOX 17 shared a segment highlighting our renovated Resale South location and how critical our Resale Stores are in supporting our neighbors.

The Holland Sentinel: Action House celebrates renovated southside resale store

Our friends at the Holland Sentinel shared an article last month highlighting the Grand ReOpening of our newly renovated Southside Resale Store!

Learn More
Read More
 

The Holland Sentinel: Holland's Community Kitchen opens in newly renovated space

In July, Community Action House celebrated the grand opening of our new Community Kitchen location in partnership with the Salvation Army.

Learn more
 

WHTC’s Talk of the Town with Gary Stevens

In August, James Smead, Director of Resale Operations joined WHTC to talk about our newly renovated Resale South location. 

Tune In!

The Shelley Irwin Show Podcast: Community Action House and the Community Kitchen

Our new Community Kitchen opened its doors last month. Listen to our conversation on the Shelley Irwin Show! Our conversation begins at 14:50.

Learn more
 

Sponsor a Community Action House Event

Sponsor a signature event like the Farm-to-Food Club Dinner, or CommunityFest to build a stronger, healthier community!

Learn more

Join The Movement

Donate Monthly

Provide a stable foundation for our service each month.

Volunteer

Volunteer time and talent powers our programs.

Donate to Resale

Donate gently used items to the Resale Store and get $5 off your next purchase.

Wellness is Built Together.

Wellness looks different for every person, but the foundation is the same: healthy food, a safe home, financial stability, and a community that cares.

At Community Action House, we see every day that these things are deeply connected. When one part of life becomes unstable, the others often follow. But when neighbors have access to the right support at the right time, they're able to regain their footing and build healthier, more stable futures.

That's why our programs work together. Healthy food. Housing support. Financial Wellness. Community. Each one strengthens the others, creating lasting opportunities for health, stability, and hope.

This National Wellness Month, we’re sharing stories of neighbors whose lives demonstrate what wellness really looks like—not because one service solved every barrier, but because our community chooses to power programs that make sure no one has to face those challenges alone.

This is what wellness looks like in our community. This is the kind of community we're building together!

Healthy Food is a Foundation for Wellness

Wellness begins with nourishment.

Healthy food gives our bodies the energy to grow, heal, and stay healthy. Having access to healthy, affordable food also creates breathing room in a family's budget, making it easier to pay bills, save for the future, and weather unexpected challenges.

At Community Action House, healthy food is just the beginning. Through Food Club, families choose fresh, nutritious foods they enjoy. Through Healthy@Home, they build confidence by preparing healthy meals, exploring new recipes, and learning practical skills that support lifelong wellness.

Wellness starts with healthy food, but it also requires the knowledge, confidence, and opportunity to make it part of everyday life.

Karin’s Story

Last year, Karin became a Food Club member while navigating a difficult season of life. Access to fresh, affordable groceries helped ease financial pressure, but she found something just as meaningful through Healthy@Home.

The weekly classes became something she looked forward to, not only for new recipes and cooking skills, but for the friendships she built along the way. As Karin became more connected, she also partnered with our Financial Wellness team to build a budget, file her taxes through VITA, and develop a plan for catching up on her mortgage.

Today she's cooking more meals at home, sharing vegetables from her own garden with classmates, and finding joy in nourishing both herself and those around her. For Karin, wellness looks like healthy food, greater financial stability, and a community where she feels connected and supported.

Financial Stability is a Foundation for Wellness

Financial stress affects nearly every part of our lives. It influences the food we buy, where we live, how we manage our health, and whether we're able to prepare for the future.

Just like physical health, financial health is built over time, and it requires the right tools and support. Our Financial Wellness team partners with neighbors to build budgets, improve credit, reduce debt, prepare taxes, save for future goals, and navigate major financial decisions.

And because our Financial Wellness team works alongside every other Community Action House program, many neighbors discover this support while seeking help with food, housing, or another immediate need—helping them move from navigating a crisis to building long term stability. 

Amber’s Story

Last year, Amber* was staying at a transitional housing agency when she connected with our Financial Wellness team. Determined to build a stronger future, she began working one-on-one with a Financial Wellness Specialist to create a budget, strengthen her savings, and steadily pay off debt.

Month by month, Amber made progress toward her goals. She intentionally opened a credit card to build her credit and committed to making consistent, on-time payments. With one final payment using her tax refund, she'll soon be completely debt-free!

After months of planning and encouragement, Amber purchased a home of her very own earlier this year. Today, she's building on a foundation of financial confidence and the stability that comes with having a safe place to call home.

For Amber, wellness looks like financial freedom, the security of a home, and the confidence to build the future she's worked so hard to achieve.

*Name and photo changed for privacy

A Safe Home is a Foundation for Wellness

It's difficult to focus on your health, employment, or future when you don't know where you'll sleep tonight. A safe, stable home provides the foundation people need to heal, establish routines, build relationships, and plan for tomorrow.

Finding housing has become increasingly difficult. Rising costs, limited availability, complicated applications, and long waitlists often place stability just out of reach. That’s why our Outreach & Housing Access team walks alongside neighbors throughout that journey, helping them navigate barriers while building trusted relationships that continue long after housing is secured.

Housing is rarely the end of the story. Once someone moves into a home, they're often connected with healthy food, Financial Wellness services, healthcare partnerships, and other community resources that help them maintain stability for years to come.

Adam’s Story

Adam* first came to Community Action House with one goal: find a safe place to live. Although he worked full-time, his income wasn't enough to qualify for an apartment. While searching for housing, he slept in his car or stayed with friends whenever possible.

Homelessness affected every part of his life—including his health. Adam urgently needed surgery, but without stable housing, his doctors couldn't move forward.

Our Outreach & Housing Access team helped him navigate housing applications and connect with a Housing Choice Voucher. Along the way, he found encouragement at the Community Kitchen and Refresh.

Earlier this year, Adam moved into his own apartment. Furnishings from Resale helped transform it into a home, and today he's a Food Club member as well. With stable housing in place, Adam was finally able to receive the surgery he'd been waiting for. Today he's healing, returning to work each day, and looking toward the future with renewed hope.

For Adam, wellness looks like a safe home, access to healthcare, nourishing food, and a community that never stopped walking alongside him.

*Name and photo changed for privacy

Community is a Foundation for Wellness

None of us were meant to navigate life's hardest moments alone.

Whether someone is facing a health crisis, job loss, rising costs, or homelessness, having people who notice, care, and help makes all the difference.

That's why every Community Action House program is built around relationships as much as resources. Because wellness grows through encouragement. Through trusted relationships. Through knowing someone believes in your future.

Wellness is something we build together.

At Community Action House, we believe healthy communities are built by neighbors who choose to show up for one another. Through innovative programs like the Food Club & Opportunity Hub. Through volunteers who welcome every guest with a smile. Through donors who make practical support possible. Through businesses, churches, healthcare providers, and community partners who believe everyone deserves the opportunity to thrive.

Together, those acts of generosity create something bigger than any one person could accomplish: a community where healthy food, stable housing, financial confidence, and caring relationships are within reach for every neighbor.

This is the community we're building together. And it's the kind of community we all want to call home.





,

August eNews

,

Dear friends,

After months of exciting progress at our original Resale South location I’m excited to share that we’re ready to reopen for shopping later this month!

This newly renovated flagship location on Holland's Southside (694 Michigan) now comes together with our brand new Resale Store on Holland’s Northside (650 Riley), to strengthen our ability to connect neighbors with the essentials they need today, while building financial resilience that ensures we can keep showing up for decades to come. 

We are already accepting donations at Resale South, and you can help stock the shelves before we open for shopping! Every donated item fuels Community Action House programs that nourish, equip, and empower our neighbors. Donate your gently used clothing, home decor, furniture, and household items this month and you’ll receive a coupon for $5 off your next purchase.

I also want to invite you to join us for our Grand ReOpening celebration. We’ll have games, prizes, and the chance to celebrate this exciting investment in the future of our work together!

Resale South Grand ReOpening Celebration:

Where: Community Action House Resale South | 694 Michigan Avenue, Holland, MI 49423

When: Friday, August 28 and Saturday, August 29 | 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM

What to Expect: Stop by during our grand opening celebration to see our new space, shop, and enjoy discounts, giveaways, and more!

Your support for our Resale Store, as volunteers, donors, and customers, makes this big step forward possible. Thank you for helping us lay an even stronger foundation for our shared work.

We hope to see you at Resale South soon! 

With gratitude,

 

Scott Rumpsa | Chief Executive Officer

Program Updates

Financial Wellness

Earlier this year, Emma* connected with our Financial Wellness team while living in her car. We quickly connected her with a Food Club membership, giving her consistent access to healthy food and personal care items while she focused on taking the next steps toward stability. At the same time, she began working with our friends at Resilience, where her case manager helped her secure employment.

With steady income, Emma began working with our team to pursue stable housing. She applied for apartment after apartment, only to encounter long waitlists. Each day after work, she returned to sleep in her car, continuing to navigate the uncertainty of homelessness while waiting for an opportunity to open. Throughout it all, Emma kept meeting with our team to build a plan and work toward her goals.

Months later, the call finally came—Emma had been approved for an apartment! After moving in last month, our partners at Resilience helped furnish her home with many of the essentials she needed, while Good Samaritan covered her security deposit, providing financial support that helped Emma start this new chapter with confidence. 

Today, Emma continues working with our Financial Wellness team to build a budget, grow her savings, and strengthen her financial future. We're so grateful for the community of partners who came together to support Emma every step of the way, ensuring she had the resources and encouragement she needed to build a stronger future!

*Name and photo changed for privacy

Food Club

When Valerie saw the positive impact Food Club was having on her friend Laurie's health, she wondered if it could make the same kind of difference in her own life. She decided to become a member, hopeful that she'd find fresh, healthy groceries, and a welcoming community to support her along the way.

Valerie joined Food Club and quickly embraced opportunities to learn through our Healthy@Home classes, including a "Dining with Diabetes” class series hosted in partnership with Michigan State University Extension. Although she'd been managing diabetes for years, the class introduced her to new recipes and practical nutrition strategies that gave her fresh confidence in caring for her health. After completing the series, Valerie was thrilled to see her blood sugar levels return to where she hoped they would be!

Today, Valerie continues building healthier habits with the support of Food Club and the relationships she's formed along the way. Just as Laurie encouraged Valerie to take that first step, Valerie is now part of a community where neighbors share knowledge, celebrate progress, and help one another build healthier lives.

Outreach & Housing Access

Earlier this year, Josh* connected with our Outreach & Housing Access team after a chronic health condition left him unable to work. Without income, he couldn't qualify for housing, so together we built a plan to help him apply for Social Security Disability Income (SSDI). For Josh, qualifying for SSDI would be a critical step toward financial stability and finding a place to call home.

We began by gathering medical records and documenting Josh's health history, then connected him with healthcare providers to strengthen his application and ensure he received the care he needed. After submitting his SSDI application, Josh is now waiting to learn whether he'll qualify. A reliable source of income is essential before he can begin applying for housing, so while he waits, our Outreach team continues to walk alongside him with support, encouragement, and guidance.

Josh is eager to begin applying for housing once he has income, but like so many of our neighbors, he's navigating a process filled with waiting—waiting for decisions, and waiting for an affordable home in a community where the need far exceeds what's available.

As we continue walking alongside Josh, we're celebrating every step forward. Sometimes progress looks like completing paperwork, connecting to healthcare, or simply knowing you have a community in your corner. The path to stable housing can be long, but we're grateful to walk alongside Josh, offering partnership every step of the way, because no one should have to face challenges alone.

*Name and photo changed for privacy

Food Rescue & Partnerships

Last month, our Lakeshore Food Rescue team received an incredible donation from our friends at G2 Revolution: 24 pallets of household items, including laundry detergent, and personal care products! While our Lakeshore Food Rescue program is best known for rescuing food, generous donations like this allow us to provide other everyday essentials that help families stretch their budgets.

Household products can be expensive, and when families have to choose between groceries and other items, groceries often take priority. Stocking the shelves at Food Club with affordable, accessible personal care items helps provide more neighbors with the dignified access to the essentials they need to thrive! 

When our neighbors have what they need to feel confident and cared for they’re better equipped to focus on building a brighter future. We're so grateful to G2 Revolution for helping ensure these much-needed essentials reached families in our community, instead of going to waste!

Community Kitchen

Earlier this year, Eliza* was living outdoors, carrying the daily uncertainty of not knowing where she'd sleep or how she'd meet her most basic needs. Like many of our neighbors, she first came to the Community Kitchen for a hot meal and found encouragement, trusted relationships, and a team committed to walking alongside her.

As trust grew, Eliza began working with our Outreach team to gather the documents needed to apply for housing. A few months later, she stopped by Refresh with exciting news: she was ready to begin pursuing housing opportunities! Together, she and our team contacted a landlord, completed an application, and celebrated another step forward.

Although Eliza is still searching for a place to call home today, she isn't searching alone. Through the Community Kitchen, she has a team she trusts that continues to walk alongside her as she works toward stable housing. Together, we'll help her continue building toward a safe, stable place to call home.

*Name and photo changed for privacy

Resale Store

Earlier this year, Eliza* was living outdoors, carrying the daily uncertainty of not knowing where she'd sleep or how she'd meet her most basic needs. Like many of our neighbors, she first came to the Community Kitchen for a hot meal and found encouragement, trusted relationships, and a team committed to walking alongside her.

As trust grew, Eliza began working with our Outreach team to gather the documents needed to apply for housing. A few months later, she stopped by Refresh with exciting news: she was ready to begin pursuing housing opportunities! Together, she and our team contacted a landlord, completed an application, and celebrated another step forward.

Although Eliza is still searching for a place to call home today, she isn't searching alone. Through the Community Kitchen, she has a team she trusts that continues to walk alongside her as she works toward stable housing. Together, we'll help her continue building toward a safe, stable place to call home.

*Name and photo changed for privacy

Explore Volunteer Opportunities with Resale

Save the Date!

Raise a Mug with Community Action House!

Celebrate National Root Beer Float Day TOMORROW at our soda pop bar benefit, a fun summer event presented by Community Action House and the Holland Area Arts Council.

Thursday, August 6 | 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Holland Area Arts Council | 150 E 8th St Suite 200, Holland, MI 49423

Register Here!

In Case You Missed It

Morningstar: Molina Healthcare Donates $85,000 to Support Food Access

In June, Molina Healthcare of Michigan donated to three local food access agencies, including Community Action House to reduce rising hunger in West Michigan. We are so grateful for their partnership and support!

WOOD TV: Nonprofit helps those in need on the lakeshore through food rescue program

This year, our Lakeshore Food Rescue program received an award for distributing farm fresh produce to local families! Learn more about Lakeshore Food Rescue and Action House in this recent segment.

Learn More
Read More
 

WHTC’s Talk of the Town with Gary Stevens

In July, Mara Lidacis and Paula Manni-Pohler, joined WHTC to talk about National Wellness Month. 

Tune In!

Sponsor a Community Action House Event

Sponsor a signature event like the Farm-to-Food Club Dinner, or CommunityFest to build a stronger, healthier community!

Learn more

Join The Movement

Donate Monthly

Provide a stable foundation for our service each month.

Volunteer

Volunteer time and talent powers our programs.

Donate to Resale

Donate gently used items to the Resale Store and get $5 off your next purchase.

The Holland Sentinel: Holland's Community Kitchen opens in newly renovated space

Last week, Community Action House celebrated the grand opening of our new Community Kitchen location in partnership with the Salvation Army of Holland!

The Community Kitchen serves a free, hot meal five days a week for anyone who needs it. Alongside healthy meals, our program offers guests the opportunity to connect with the Community Action House team and other nonprofit partners to identify barriers to housing, navigate available resources, and access housing-focused case management support.


Learn more in the Holland Sentinel’s recent article here.

,

July eNews

,

Program Updates

Financial Wellness

A year ago, Sandra* and Mark* came to Community Action House with a dream of becoming homeowners, but they weren’t sure where to begin. Partnering with our Financial Wellness team, they took the first steps forward: reviewing their credit, building a realistic budget, and gaining the tools and knowledge needed to move toward their goal. 

One year later, Sandra and Mark returned with stronger financial footing and renewed confidence. They had saved thousands toward a down payment and nearly paid off their credit cards. After qualifying for a loan, their bank connected them with Jubilee Ministries, where they toured a home and soon placed a reservation. Last month they were approved by Jubilee to move forward with the purchase, and will move in soon! 

As they prepare for this next chapter, Sandra and Mark continue working with our Financial Wellness team—building savings for home emergencies and strengthening their budget to pursue their long-term financial goals. With the right support to help fill in the gaps, share expertise, and offer encouragement, neighbors like Sandra and Mark are building stronger financial futures.

*Names and photo changed for privacy

Outreach & Housing Access

Several years ago, Mateo* connected with our team while living outdoors and struggling to access food. With support from our team he received food assistance, but additional barriers to stability stood in the way. Mateo was also experiencing identity theft, and the false information attached to his name prevented him from qualifying for housing. For more than a year, our team partnered with Mateo to work through paperwork, documentation, and countless obstacles to resolve it. 

Once the identity theft was cleared, Mateo secured income and immediately began applying for housing. Together, Mateo and our team pursued every subsidized housing opportunity available in our community. But despite doing everything he could, housing remained out of reach. His income wasn't enough to afford market-rate rent, and the shortage of affordable housing meant he spent years on subsidized housing waitlists with no openings available. Through it all, Mateo continued living outdoors while our team walked alongside him—offering support, encouragement, and the essentials he needed to get by.

Earlier this year, the call finally came. After years of waiting, Mateo learned that an apartment had become available! With support from Good Samaritan to cover his security deposit, he moved into safe, stable housing in May. Our team helped him settle in with household essentials from the Resale Store, transforming an empty apartment into a home and a foundation for future progress. Today, Mateo is a Food Club member, giving him access to the healthy food he needs to thrive, and he's continuing to build stability by working with Good Samaritan on his financial wellness goals. After years of perseverance, Mateo finally has a place to call home.

*Name and photo changed for privacy

Food Club

In 2024, Laurie was referred to Community Action House through our partnership with the Holland Free Health Clinic. Through our Healthcare Partnerships program, we work alongside local healthcare providers to connect neighbors facing chronic health conditions and food insecurity with healthy, affordable groceries at Food Club. For Laurie, that connection became the beginning of a healthier future.

Before joining Food Club, accessing fresh fruits, vegetables, and other nutritious foods was a challenge for Laurie. Since becoming a Food Club member, Laurie says she’s eating healthier, feeling better, and has even lost weight. She enjoys attending Healthy@Home classes at Food Club, where she learns recipes that make it easy for her to cook fresh, nutritious meals at home. What stands out most to Laurie is the sense of kindness and community she experiences every time she visits. She often encourages friends to become members too, wanting others to experience the same support she’s found through Food Club.

At Community Action House, we believe everyone deserves access to healthy food and a supportive community. We’re grateful to walk alongside Laurie as she continues building a brighter, healthier future!

Community Kitchen

For more than 32 years, the Community Kitchen has been a place where neighbors find warm meals, connection, and support. Today, we’re celebrating an exciting milestone for the Community Kitchen: this month, the Community Kitchen will officially begin operating from its new home at the Salvation Army!

This space will be our new home, and part of a long term vision for even better support for our neighbors. Over the last year, community-wide planning efforts through the Project HOME initiative identified the need for a more integrated service hub where guests can access multiple forms of support in one location. The Salvation Army’s renovated space provides an exciting foundation for that vision, offering room for the Community Kitchen to continue serving healthy meals while creating new opportunities for connection, collaboration, and even more impactful services in the future.

We’re incredibly grateful to the Salvation Army, our friends at First United Methodist Church who supported our interim service, our volunteers, donors, and the many other partners who have helped make this transition possible. Most of all, we’re excited for what this new space will mean for providing even greater support, hospitality, and pathways forward for the neighbors we serve. 

Food Rescue & Partnerships

Last month, we received an incredible rescue delivery from our friends at The Farmlink Project: 24 pallets totaling more than 20,000 pounds of tomatoes, bell peppers, and cucumbers! The Farmlink Project does food rescue work similar to Lakeshore Food Rescue, but on a national scale. They connect surplus food from farms and other food industry partners with hunger relief organizations (like Community Action House!) across the country, ensuring good food reaches people instead of going to waste.

When they offered us this truckload of rescued produce, we immediately said yes. Our Lakeshore Food Rescue team quickly coordinated with partner agencies across the county to determine how much each organization could use and how we could distribute the food efficiently. In total, 22 community partners received food through this rescue, in addition to our Food Club and Community Kitchen. Together, we turned excess food into food access for thousands of neighbors! We’re grateful to The Farmlink Project and proud to work alongside so many community partners to ensure perfectly good food ends up on tables, not in landfills.

Resale Store

The countdown is on! After months of exciting progress, our original Resale South location on Michigan Avenue is preparing for its Grand Reopening this August—and you can help fill the shelves.

Later this month, we'll reopen to accept donations as we get ready to welcome shoppers back through our doors. Every donated item helps stock our shelves and fuels Community Action House programs that nourish, equip, and empower our neighbors.

Help us stock the shelves by donating your gently used clothing, home decor, furniture, and household items starting July 27! Ready to donate before then? Drop off donations at Resale North (650 Riley Street) or schedule a free pick up for larger items.

Join Our Team!

As we gear up to reopen our Resale South location, we’re looking to expand our dedicated team of Resale staff members! Interviews are actively happening with official start dates this month.

Do you know a student looking for a job that works with their school schedule? Or someone looking to build a career in retail or customer service? Express your interest or share the opportunity here!

Learn more

Neighbors For Neighbors Was a Success!

We had an incredible time at our 23rd annual Neighbors Fore Neighbors Golf Classic last month! This is our biggest fundraiser of the year, and over a hundred neighbors joined us for a day of golf, connection, and community.  

We’re so grateful to Bradford, our presenting sponsor, for making this event possible and helping us build a stronger, healthier community!

Save the Date!

Raise a Mug with Community Action House!

Celebrate National Root Beer Float Day at our soda pop bar benefit, a fun summer event presented by Community Action House and the Holland Area Arts Council.

Thursday, August 6 | 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Holland Area Arts Council | 150 E 8th St Suite 200, Holland, MI 49423

Register Here!

In Case You Missed It

WOOD TV: Apartments under construction in Holland focus on accessibility

Community Action House's affordable housing project in partnership with Dwelling Place and other local partners focuses on accessibility, incorporating features that support residents with a range of mobility needs while expanding local housing options.

FOX 17: 8 organizations unite to tackle homelessness with Project HOME

Project HOME is bringing organizations together to tackle homelessness in Ottawa County through coordinated, community-driven solutions. We’re proud to partner alongside local leaders to create stronger pathways to stability for our neighbors!

Learn More
Read More
 

FOX 17: Holland's Hope Apartments nears completion

Construction is nearly complete on the first phase of Action House's affordable housing project in partnership with Dwelling Place! This 14-unit affordable housing development will begin accepting applications in July.

Tune In!

WZZM 13: Affordable housing in Holland nears completion

As Ottawa County grapples with a significant housing shortage, Community Action House's affordable housing project in partnership with Dwelling Place and many other local partners nears completion.

Learn more
 

WHTC’s Talk of the Town with Gary Stevens

In June, Financial Wellness Program Manager, Alicia Beene, joined WHTC to talk about National Homeownership Month. 

Tune In!

Sponsor a Community Action House Event

Sponsor a signature event like the Farm-to-Food Club Dinner, or CommunityFest to build a stronger, healthier community!

Learn more

Join The Movement

Donate Monthly

Provide a stable foundation for our service each month.

Volunteer

Volunteer time and talent powers our programs.

Donate to Resale

Donate gently used items to the Resale Store and get $5 off your next purchase.

WOOD TV: Nonprofit helps those in need on the lakeshore

This year, our Lakeshore Food Rescue program received an award for distributing farm fresh produce to local families! Learn more about Lakeshore Food Rescue and Action House in this recent segment.

Learn more by watching a recent feature on WOOD TV here!

WZZM 13: Affordable housing project in Holland nears completion

As Ottawa County grapples with a significant housing shortage, Community Action House's affordable housing project in partnership with Dwelling Place and many other local partners nears completion.

Learn more by watching a recent feature on WZZM 13 here!

FOX 17: Holland's Hope Apartments nears completion, bringing 14 affordable units to address housing gap

Construction is nearly complete on the first phase of Action House's affordable housing project in partnership with Dwelling Place! This 14-unit affordable housing development will begin accepting applications in July.

Learn more by watching a recent feature on FOX 17 here!

WOOD TV: Apartments under construction in Holland focus on accessibility

Community Action House's affordable housing project in partnership with Dwelling Place and other local partners focuses on accessibility, incorporating features that support residents with a range of mobility needs while expanding local housing options.

Learn more by watching a recent feature on WOOD TV here!

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